Outlier

Gay culture and hook-up culture can be fraught with obstacles and anxiety. Behind a (blank) profile, we project a self-assured, confident and sexually liberal persona, often promising something sketchy that goes far beyond our boundaries of comfort to please someone and/or ourselves. Sometimes we are pleasantly surprised; other times, we have regrets. Who hasn’t met up with someone and immediately thought get me out of here? In the Australian premiere of Outlier, themes of gay apps and rainbow capitalism are explored against the backdrop of consent and the truths we tell ourselves.

Jonathon Shilling puts on a near-perfect performance as James, a university student from rural Ireland who navigates a quintessential twenty-something world of share houses, an eclectic mix of mates and sex in Dublin. James’ life is dotted with interactions with his performatively woke housemate, a friend whose “patience is wearing thin” and Grindr.

One evening, after growing increasingly restless (and horny), James agrees to meet a guy at a nearby sports field. Coming face-to-face with the guy, he quickly realises that he isn’t quite as young, as fit, or as good looking as his photos suggested. With his appetite for a hook-up fading, James struggles to communicate his lack of interest but lets the man uses him for his sexual needs – leaving him feeling empty and plagued with the realisation that he was raped.

Outlier is a show that explores the nuance of consent with a fresh perspective. Jonathon Shilling’s performance adds to the conversation through his vulnerable portrayal of the horror, devastation and determination to control his narrative. For me, the pivotal moments include Jonathon Shilling’s emotional phone call with his mum in the aftermath – where he’s looking for a moment of normalcy among the dark moments that occurred the night before.

Directed by Gavin Roach and running in conjunction with Midsumma Festival, Outlier is a show by Marcus Bateson, an award-winning playwright and theatre director based in Ireland.

Outlier by Marcus Bateson
https://www.midsumma.org.au/outlier